Lessons from last week’s Brett Kavanaugh, Christine Blasey Ford circus? Women should be heard, but it doesn’t mean all those accused are guilty

By Terry Greenberg

Thoughts about last week’s circus with Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh.

Watching social media about this is frustratingly predictable. Friends who I know are liberal or conservative, with little exception, believe one or the other based on their political beliefs.

Understood.

… can any of you prove your belief is the truth about what happened?

But let’s get one thing clear. Whether you believe Kavanaugh or Ford, you are welcome to your opinion … but can any of you prove your belief is the truth about what happened?

You were not there.

No. And don’t even try to tell me you know what happened. You were not there.

If you’re a woman who’s been a victim of sexual harassment … from light-hearted uncomfortable flirting to felony sexual assault, you might be more willing to believe her. I respect that and am sorry for what happened to you.

But does that mean … in this specific case … Brett Kavanaugh did sexually assault her?

We’ve come part way in our country in addressing this issue. For way too long, women didn’t always report sex assaults and when they did, they were not always believed.

At the first newspaper I worked for in the late 1970s, there were calendars with naked women back in the press area. No one seemed to be offended. Or, if they were, no one said anything.

Going further back, there’s a scene in 1946’s “The Big Sleep” … one of my favorite Humphrey Bogart movies … where Lauren Bacall (seen in photo with her children with Bogart) sings a song about a man who “socked her in the choppers.” It’s clear during other lines he’s not nice, but the song makes it seem as if this is just the way it is and it’s OK.

I hope the Me Too Movement has finally made men aware that some things they may have thought they could do with a woman are unacceptable.

I hope the Me Too Movement has finally made men aware some things they may have thought they could do with a woman are unacceptable.

But the Me Too Movement doesn’t mean every man accused of sexual impropriety actually did it.

But the Me Too Movement doesn’t mean every man accused of sexual impropriety actually did it.

We can’t lose sight of that … even though people I follow on Facebook with Trump Derangement Syndrome and MAGA-hat wearers have.

I do find it interesting so many of the worst cases of sexual harassment/assault come from the entertainment industry, which is so heavily liberal.

I have no idea if Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford all those years ago. If this new FBI investigation shows he did … then he’s gone and the Democrats and Republicans can fight over another nominee,

And yes, the Democrats are upset about Merrick Garland and Republicans are fuming after Thursday.

That won’t change.

We’re not here yet, but I hope we’re getting to a place where:

There is no explanation a person can use to justify any form of sexual harassment. If you’re a father who told a son that women always want sex and it’s OK to force a situation, you need to grow up and tell him you were wrong.

Anyone’s complaints of sexual harassment (yes, men can also be harassed) must be taken seriously and not dismissed,

It doesn’t mean every claim is true. I have two huge questions about Brett Kavanaugh. One, why didn’t this come up all the other times he was investigated? Two, should we hold anyone accountable for something they did before they were an adult? The second point comes from a close female friend who is liberal and detests our president.

Terry Greenberg

Terry Greenberg is editor and business manager of Lubbock Lights. He worked in the newspaper industry for almost 40 years, 33 of those as editor of eight newspapers in five states. He was editor of the Avalanche-Journal from 2006-2015. He now runs his own media company, Greenberg Media Management. He is a native of Los Angeles and loves living in Lubbock, Texas.